The openly gay brother of an Indiana senator who created a buzz on social media is speaking out and responding to the tweets of the man he says he knows so well.
Indiana State Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, engaged in a war of tweets late Thursday and early Friday, venting his frustration over a Senate move that delayed a statewide vote on a gay marriage ban for at least two years.
Delph lashed out at members of his own party, the media and the "self absorbed Godless culture that is fast tracking our nation to ruin."
The senator’s brother, Stephen Delph, said he came out to his family in the mid-1980s. He said he is well-aware of what his brother posted on Twitter, but he said he will agree to disagree.
Stephen Delph said he is more concerned about the vulgarities that have been sent to his four nieces, Mike Delph’s daughters, and the Delph family -- he wants those to stop.
"I will tell you, over the last several years he has met boyfriends of mine and he has been very cordial. He has seen me in full drag," Stephen Delph said. "He has a different view on his faith and he has a very conservative view of the sanctity of marriage."
Stephen Delph wants everyone to know that he loves his brother and he does not believe the senator is homophobic or anti-gay. He said he wants the public to know that both of his brothers protected him from bullies in middle school.
"I can support my brother, and this being a free nation, he can believe what he believes and I can believe what I believe, and still love each other as brothers," Stephen Delph said. "He has never called me an abomination, he has never called me evil, he's never told me I'm going to hell. He's never told me not to be my true self."
Stephen Delph said he even helped his sister-in-law with her makeup and flowers on her wedding day. He was also with his family when the senator was sworn in at the Statehouse.
On the issue of HJR-3, Stephen Delph said he will take no position and will leave it to the senator to deal with the politics.
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